[Elanor]

I agree that many characters appear much weaker than they should be.<P>Somebody made the point on another thread somewhere (and I forget who, so sorry, I'm not trying to steal your theory!) that many people have been made weaker in order to make Aragorn look better. If Faramir can also resist the Ring, and Theoden and Eomer can fight really bravely, then what is so special about Aragorn? One of my non-Tolkien friends actually said to me that "Aragorn is the only decent one there, the others are all wimps or evil" which kind of proves the point.<P>I think it's a shame. We should still be able to admire Aragorn while admiring the strength and courage of others too.